matted St. John's-wort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• matted St. John's-wort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tridia frankenioides
• Hypericum sumatranum
• Hypericum dominii
• Reseda chinensis
• Hypericum japonicum var. humifusum
• Reseda cochinchinensis
• Hypericum japonicum var. calyculatum
• Hypericum japonicum var. cavaleriei
• Hypericum japonicum var. accumbens
• Hypericum japonicum var. simplicius
• Hypericum japonicum var. ramosum
• Hypericum japonicum var. robustum
• Hypericum japonicum var. plurinervium
• Hypericum japonicum var. majus
• Hypericum japonicum var. maximowiczii
• Hypericum japonicum f. microphyllum
• Hypericum japonicum f. tenuis
• Hypericum japonicum var. thunbergii
• Hypericum japonicum f. yabei
• Hypericum jeongjocksanense
• Hypericum laxum
• Hypericum laxum var. hananoegoense
• Hypericum laxum var. novo-guineense
• Hypericum cavaleriei
• Hypericum chinense
• Ascyrum humifusum
• Brathys debilis
• Brathys cespitosa
• Brathys cespitosa var. pusilla
• Brathys japonica
• Brathys japonica var. accumbens
• Brathys japonica var. acutisepala
• Brathys japonica var. mucronisepala
• Brathys humifusa
• Brathys laxa
• Brathys nepalensis
• Brathys oryzetum
• Brathys radicans
• Hypericum nervatum
• Hypericum pusillum
• Hypericum taquetii
• Hypericum thunbergii
• Hypericum yabei
• Sarothra laxa
• Sarothra laxa f. erecta
• Sarothra laxa f. hananoegoensis
• Sarothra laxa f. ramosa
• Sarothra laxa f. ramosissima
• Sarothra laxa f. repens
• Sarothra laxa f. simplex
• Sarothra loureiroana
• Sarothra japonica
• Sarothra japonica f. microphylla
• Sarothra japonica f. ramosa
• Sarothra japonica f. robusta
• Sarothra japonica f. vulgaris

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Hypericaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Hypericum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical range across several distinct regions of East Asia. In the Russian Far East, its presence is noted within the Kuril Islands and the Primorye region. Its distribution extends significantly into China, where it can be found throughout Manchuria. Furthermore, the species inhabits the South-Central areas of China. Finally, its range reaches as far south as the island of Hainan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hypericum japonicum is characterized by its adaptability across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 2800 m AMSL. While it is frequently found in lowland habitats, the species maintains a significant presence across various mountainous terrains, maintaining a mean elevation of approximately 1400 m AMSL. This wide elevational range suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing the plant to colonize diverse topographical zones from coastal lowlands to high-altitude environments.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Hypericum japonicum is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Its structural development is defined by its life forms, functioning primarily as a hemicryptophyte, where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, though it also exhibits characteristics of a therophyte in certain environmental contexts. In terms of foliage and seasonal persistence, the plant maintains an evergreen nature, retaining its leaves throughout the year to facilitate continuous metabolic processes.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hypericum japonicum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber or a parasite, maintaining an independent biological existence. As a terrestrial species, it is neither an epiphyte nor an aquatic plant, thriving instead in land-based habitats. The plant exhibits significant variability in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.45 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 0.3675 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.45 m

Plant height mean:

0.3675 m

Plant height min:

0.02 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Hypericum japonicum is characterized by specific morphological dimensions and nutritional strategies. Its foliar development exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 1.8 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 1 cm. The width of the leaves is similarly diverse, spanning from a minimum of 0.1 cm to a maximum of 1 cm. In terms of nutrient acquisition and metabolic processes, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of nitrogen from the soil through its root system rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Leaf length max:

1.8 cm

Leaf length mean:

1 cm

Leaf length min:

0.2 cm

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width min:

0.1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hypericum japonicum involves a combination of sexual and asexual processes, with asexual reproduction being present to facilitate its spread. Sexual reproduction is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically utilizing insects to facilitate pollen transfer. The resulting fruit is classified as a capsule that is dehiscent in nature. These capsules vary in size, typically measuring with a mean length of 0.3625 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.25 cm to a maximum of 0.6 cm) and a mean width of 0.205 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.13 cm to a maximum of 0.28 cm). The flowering stage is characterized by flowers that range in length from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.8 cm. Following maturation, the plant employs an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, though it also exhibits unspecialized dispersal traits for its seed distribution.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower length max:

0.8 cm

Flower length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit length max:

0.6 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.3625 cm

Fruit length min:

0.25 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

0.28 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.205 cm

Fruit width min:

0.13 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hypericum japonicum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. Organic letters

Chemicals

Hypericum japonicum has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxy-4-prenylxanthone, 1,5,6-Trihydroxyxanthone, 1,5-Dihydroxyxanthone-6-O-beta-D-glucoside, 4-hydroxyhyperolactone D.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytochemistry

1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxy-4-prenylxanthone

1. Phytochemistry

1,5,6-Trihydroxyxanthone

1. Phytochemistry

1,5-Dihydroxyxanthone-6-O-beta-D-glucoside

1. Phytochemistry

4-hydroxyhyperolactone D

1. Journal of natural products

5,6-Dihydrohyperolactone D

1. Journal of natural products

6-Deoxyisojacareubin

1. Phytochemistry

Bijaponicaxanthone

1. Phytochemistry

Biyoulactone A

1. Organic letters

Biyoulactone B

1. Organic letters

Activities

Hypericum japonicum has 7 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Cytotoxic, Anthelmintic, Antibacterial, Antiproliferative.

Antioxidant

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Cytotoxic

1. Phytochemistry
2. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

Anthelmintic

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Antibacterial

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiproliferative

1. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology

Antiviral

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hepatoprotective

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Hypericum japonicum has 7 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant, antiviral, chronic hepatitis, gastrointestinal disorder, infectious hepatitis.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations